Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been covering Portland City Hall for the Press Herald since 2012. His beat touches on a wide range of topics, including immigration, homelessness, education, tourism, real estate development and the economy in Maine’s largest city. He has been a Portland-based journalist since 2005. A life-long Mainer who loves the outdoors, Randy is also a bassist who brews his own beer at his North Yarmouth home, where he lives with his wife and two children.
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PublishedJuly 26, 2023
State corrections official charged with theft, bribery
Gerald E. Merrill, a deputy superintendent with the Maine Department of Corrections, was arrested Tuesday and accused of operating a kickback scheme for nearly a decade.
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PublishedJuly 25, 2023
Advocates look to fall referendum to ban foreign campaign spending
The Legislature failed to muster the votes to override Gov. Janet Mills’ veto of the measure, setting the stage for a statewide vote in November.
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PublishedJuly 24, 2023
Biden to focus on economy, manufacturing in visit to Maine on Friday
The president’s stop is part of a national push touting ‘Bidenomics,’ which supporters say is an attempt to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up, rather than the top down.
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PublishedJuly 24, 2023
Millions of dollars in foreign campaign funds pour into Maine as lawmakers push to ban them
Lawmakers say they will try to override Gov. Janet Mills’ veto of the foreign spending ban, but it won’t prevent foreign-owned companies from pouring money into Maine politics this fall.
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PublishedJuly 21, 2023
Maine delegation gets backing of U.S. Chamber in push to speed work permits for asylum seekers
Both Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, and Republican Sen. Susan Collins have introduced similar bills in their respective chambers to shorten wait periods for asylum seekers who want to work.
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PublishedJuly 19, 2023
White House salutes child care investments by Maine and other states
Senate President Troy Jackson attended an event at the White House on Wednesday to celebrate state efforts to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care as a means of lifting families out of poverty and strengthening local economies.
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PublishedJuly 17, 2023
Maine House Democrat resigns to become county register of probate
Rep. Sean Paulhus, D-Bath, accepted an appointment to fill a vacancy as the Sagadahoc County Register of Probate.
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PublishedJuly 14, 2023
State budget gives one-time boost to program that gives poor Mainers legal aid in civil cases
But the initiative did not get the large increase in annual support called for in the bill that the Legislature passed.
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PublishedJuly 13, 2023
Legislature’s budget committee wraps up work, leaves many bills unfunded
Measures to invest in the social safety net, waive tuition for certain UMaine students, increase starting pay for teachers and raise the minimum wage were among the casualties.
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PublishedJuly 13, 2023
Next Maine governor, Legislature on track to get raises
Maine’s governor would see a nearly $42,000 annual pay increase, while the next batch of 186 lawmakers would see increases of about $17,000 each over the next two-year period.
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